Ashkan Rajaee Speaks Out: Is Apple Killing the Future of Work?

What if the world’s most iconic tech company is quietly undermining the future of work?

That is the bold question Ashkan Rajaee, serial entrepreneur and advocate for remote-first businesses, is asking as Apple and other tech giants double down on their return-to-office policies in 2025.

For remote entrepreneurs, or RemotePreneurs as Rajaee calls them, this shift is not just a logistical change. It represents a philosophical U-turn that could reshape how innovation and workplace culture evolve in the next decade.

In a recent video gaining attention online, Rajaee shared his concerns about Apple's renewed push to bring employees back into the office for part of the week. “They embraced remote teams during the chaos of the pandemic,” he said. “Now that things have settled, they’re backpedaling. Why?”

Apple’s Quiet Reversal: More Than Just a Policy Change

Rajaee doesn’t accuse Apple of wrongdoing. However, he raises important questions about what this return-to-office movement really means for workers. He highlights how moving back into physical office spaces also means giving up the personal control that remote workers have grown used to.

“You control your space at home. Your noise level, your vibe, your schedule. That all belongs to you,” he explains. “Back in the office, your time and presence are monitored again. Your flexibility is gone. Your freedom is limited.”

This is not just about convenience. It is about autonomy, trust, and the ability to thrive in a way that is not bound by cubicle walls or badge scanners.

Rethinking Routine in 2025

One of Rajaee’s more controversial insights involves the idea of routine. Some corporate leaders argue that the traditional workday routine, such as commuting and sitting at a desk, is essential for productivity.

Rajaee challenges that belief. He thinks remote work pushes individuals to create their own structure, and that this self-designed discipline is far more powerful in the long run.

“Anyone can follow a routine that’s handed to them,” he says. “But building your own? That’s where real growth happens.”

In 2025, with remote tools more advanced than ever, Rajaee argues that there is no excuse not to build strong systems outside the office. The real issue is whether companies are willing to let go of outdated control systems and embrace a new way of managing performance.

Remote Work Isn’t Easier. It’s Smarter.

Rajaee does not pretend that remote work is without challenges. He openly admits that when remote work was suddenly forced on everyone in 2020, many people struggled. But instead of using that as an excuse to return to the office, he believes it should be used as motivation to evolve.

“The tough parts of remote work? Those are signals. They’re telling us where we need to improve,” he says. “Better leadership, better communication, better systems. That’s what we should be focusing on. Not going back to badge-ins and whiteboards.”

Remote work is not about laziness or avoiding responsibility. It is about efficiency, independence, and working on your own terms. All of this can lead to better output when managed correctly.

The Real Issue: Control Versus Trust

The deeper message in Rajaee’s commentary goes beyond Apple. It is a warning about the direction many companies are heading. Instead of embracing trust-based leadership, they are reverting to control-based systems.

“When leadership is scared to lose control, they react by pulling people back into their orbit,” he explains. “But that is not innovation. That is fear.”

The companies that will lead the future, according to Rajaee, are the ones that invest in people and trust them to perform without constant oversight. These are the businesses that empower their teams rather than restrict them.

What Happens Next?

In 2025, we are no longer asking whether remote work can be done. That question has already been answered. What we need to ask now is whether we are willing to adapt or if we are going to let nostalgia for office culture hold us back.

Ashkan Rajaee’s take is clear. The future belongs to those who are brave enough to design freedom into their company culture. For Remopreneurs and leaders building remote-first businesses, this is the time to double down, not step back.

“Work isn't where you go,” Rajaee says. “It’s what you do.”

What’s your take on Apple’s updated policy and the broader shift back to office life in 2025? Are we building the future or just returning to old habits with new packaging? Share your perspective and let’s keep this conversation going.